Don Hylton named SPE Thermoformer of the Year 

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Division has named Donald (Don) Hylton Thermoformer of the Year.   

The award will be presented May 20 at a dinner held in conjunction with the 30th SPE Thermoforming Conference, May 19-21 in Atlanta.       

Hylton earned a BS in chemistry and biology from Kentucky State University and pursued graduate studies in physical chemistry at the University of Louisville. He began his career in GE’s Plastics Application Center, developing test procedures on the new Rheometrics Mechanical Spectrometer (now part of TA Instruments). His dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) test on this instrument is now a standard ASTM test method: D7028.  

As GE began to replace metal refrigerator liners with thermoformed plastic, he developed an inflation instrument to show differences in the materials, reducing the need to conduct trials. The test proved useful in other thermoforming applications and in blow molding, and was named most significant contribution of the year in 1980 by Chemical Week magazine.  

In 1980, Hylton joined ExxonMobil’s Polymers Division and was assigned to investigate premature failure of a fiber-grade polypropylene, and to develop a thermoformable grade of polypropylene. That product became known as High Melt Strength (HMS PP), and was the first PP thermoformed on conventional vacuum forming equipment.  

Hylton was also a pioneer in the development of co-extruded multilayer food packaging in collaboration with Campbell Soup, Hormel, and Ball Plastics. He also worked with Millikin Company to develop the first clear PP for food packaging. 

After Hylton attended one of Bill McConnell’s thermoforming workshops, he was encouraged to join the SPE Thermoforming Division and become a member of its board of directors. McConnell invited Hylton to present at his next workshop and eventually hired him at McConnell Company, where he still works.  

In 1995, Hylton joined Clark Atlanta University as Associate Director of the New Science and Technology Center where he continued to work on materials for thermoforming. He also mentored students and influenced their decisions to pursue careers in plastics. 

He developed a technology and testing equipment for evaluating materials for thermoformability called the Thermoforming Index, which is used to solve material-related problems in thermoforming production and as a quality control tool.  

Hylton has served in multiple roles with the Society of Plastics Engineers since joining in 1985. He was presented with the division’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2000 and its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He served as ASTM Plastics Sheeting and Films Subcommittee Chair and reviewed and updated all ASTM standards and test methods for sheeting and films.  

Hylton is the author of numerous technical papers and the book “Understanding Plastics Testing.”